FCCPC targets juveniles in new campaign

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has flagged off an advocacy campaign, aimed at combating the rise in the use of tobacco among the nation’s youths.

Flagging off the campaign, tagged ”Don’t Burn Their Future’, in Lagos on Monday, the Acting Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Adamu Abdullahi explained that the campaign becomes imperative, going by the critical mass the youths in Nigeria constitute, and the need to sensitise such bulging population to the dangers of indulging in tobacco use.

He added that while the intention of the campaign is not to eradicate tobacco smoking in Nigeria, it is however meant to quickly alert this vulnerable, but critical part of the nation’s population, of the negative implications of engaging in tobacco smoking at such tender ages.

Describing the launch ‘pivotal, the new FCCPC’s boss stated that the campaign remains one of the Commission’s resolute efforts at safeguarding the health and future of Nigeria’s youth.

The initiative, he stated, addresses the alarming rise in young and underage access to tobacco products and aims to curb the detrimental impact on society.

The Commission’s new EVC underscores the collective responsibility of individuals, communities, and a prioritised healthcare system in fostering a healthier future for the youth.

He highlighted the dangers associated with youth tobacco use, some of which, he added, range from impacts on brain development to respiratory issues and increased nicotine dependence.

Dr. Abdullahi commended the proactive measures taken by the Federal Government of Nigeria, including the enactment of the National Tobacco Control Act in 2015, describing this as a demonstration of the federal government’s commitment to creating a smoke-free environment, and fulfilling international obligations under the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).

The campaign’s scope, he explained, will extend beyond warnings, since it will also feature a collaborative approach with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to provide counselling services for those aiming to quit smoking.

Unveiling the campaign, the immediate past EVC, FCCPC, Mr. Babatunde Irukera noted that beyond its regulatory duties, it has become pertinent for the agency to protect people, especially the nation’s youths from the harmful effects of tobacco, and ensuring that their lofty ambitions do not go up in flames.

He added that the campaign sets the stage for a series of symposiums, lectures, hangouts, and meetings with young people nationwide, reinforcing the message for a tobacco-free future.

Commending the Commission for coming up with the campaign, the Minister of Health, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, described the new initiative as in tune with the national objective on tobacco control.

The Minister, who was represented by the Head, Tobacco Control Unit, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Malau Toma, stated that the campaign could not have come at a better time since more than eight million deaths occur, annually, worldwide, with over seven million of these deaths occurring as a result of direct tobacco use, while about 1.2 million from non-smokers exposure to second-hand smoke.

While pledging the support of her group to the initiative, the Chairman, National Tobacco Control Committee, (NATOCC), Dr. Bridget Okoeguale, expressed the believe that the campaign would go a long way in creating awareness among the young people on the dangers of tobacco use.